Driver Certificate of
Professional Competence (Driver CPC)
Driver CPC is a new
dimension for the transport industry in
There are other CPC’s related to the transport industry such as the Transport
Manager CPC which covers areas such as setting up a transport business,
financial management and vehicle maintenance. Transport Manager CPC is separate
from Driver CPC and you will require both if you are a Transport Manager and a
Professional Driver. The main focus of Driver CPC is on the driver and it
covers areas such as Road Safety, Health and Safety of the Driver and Eco –
driving, among others.
The Road Safety Authority implemented Driver CPC for Buses on the 10th
September 2008 and are currently at the final stages
of implementing Driver CPC for Trucks from the 10th September 2009. All new bus
and truck drivers will have to pass 2 two hour theory tests and a 30 minute
practical test as well as the current driving test in order to obtain Driver
CPC after these dates. The theory tests and the practical test are developed to
ensure the applicant has a comprehensive knowledge of the Rules of the Road and
of the skills and professionalism to be a full time driver of a bus and truck.
On passing all examinations a driver will be issued with a Driver CPC
Qualification Card which they will require in addition to their driving
licence.
If you hold a full bus licence on or before the 10th of September 2008; or a
full truck licence on or before the 10th of September 2009, you will not be
required to sit the extra tests, however you will have to do 1 day of training
per year over the following 5 years to ensure you retain your Driver CPC. The
licence you have at present identifies that you have either a bus or truck
licence and this is evidence that you have a valid Driver CPC. On completion of
your 5 years of training you will then be issued with a Driver CPC
Qualification Card.
The training material has been developed to ensure
that the driver has an interesting and educational experience from the training
day. It has also been developed in line with the requirements of the EU
Directive. The training has practical benefits for the driver and the industry
such as improved driving skills which will lead to fewer casualties on our
roads and giving greater protection to more vulnerable road users. Improved
driving skills will also save on the costs of vehicle repair and loss of trade.
In relation to Safety
and Eco Driving, research has shown that safe and fuel efficient driving
results in an average of 12% saving on fuel costs, 40% reduction in gear
changes and a 60% reduction in safety related faults.
There are six training modules in total, each of 7 hours duration with
additional reading material to cover specific areas.
The titles of the modules are;
• Control of the Vehicle and Eco Driving Techniques.
• Minimising Risks and Managing Emergencies in the Transport Industry.
• Health and Safety for the Professional Driver.
• Role of the Professional Driver in the Transport Industry.
• The Professional Truck Driver.
• The Professional Bus Driver.
Training will be carried out by RSA approved training providers, in centres
throughout
In order for a training centre to be approved by the RSA for the purpose of
Driver CPC, they are subject to a rigorous process assessing the quality and
standards of their facilities and trainers. The approval process requires all
training organisations to provide evidence of quality standards, some of these
include, premises, trainers qualifications, record management and policies. The
“Guidelines for the Approval of Driver CPC Training Centres” and the
application documents are available for download below. The RSA will monitor
the training standards of all trainers to ensure that every driver benefits
from Driver CPC.
Legislation has been enacted for Driver CPC which sets out penalties for
driving without a valid Driver CPC. Penalties have also been put in place in
all EU countries in relation to driving without a valid Driver CPC.
The RSA are fully aware that this new obligation on drivers to participate in
training is a fundamental change on how the industry’s drivers have been
trained previously. Driver CPC will lead to a change in the perception that
driving professionally can be achieved by a once off test. It will now be seen
as a profession which has continuous training and development of skills as a
requirement. The Irish Driver in the Transport industry will be on an equal if
not better professional standard than his European counterparts due to the
system put in place by the industry in conjunction with the RSA.